A homeowner in Denver called my cable runs sloppy and I thought they were fine

I was finishing a job last Tuesday, running RG6 along a baseboard. The customer, an older guy who used to be an electrician, pointed at my work and said, 'You're leaving too much slack looped at the corner, it's going to snag when they vacuum.' I always left a little extra for future moves, but he was right. Now I use a single small service loop and secure it tight to the wall with an extra clip. Has anyone else had a customer give you a tip that actually stuck?

3 comments

3 Comments

gavin2282mo ago

My buddy had a customer tell him his wire staples were too tight, pinching the cable. Dude showed him these special low voltage ones. He uses them on every job now.

dylan_brown302mo ago

@gavin228 that's a solid tip. I learned the hard way after crushing a thermostat wire and had to re-run a whole line. Those regular staples are way too aggressive for low voltage. Now I keep a box of the right ones on the truck, saves so much headache. Your buddy's customer did him a real favor.

river9522mo ago

Feel that pain. I've definitely been there, staring at a crushed wire knowing I'm about to lose an hour of my day. It's one of those mistakes you only make once before it really sticks with you. Swapping to those low voltage staples was a total game changer, no more holding your breath when you hammer them in. Just a clean, easy install every time.